Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf
Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf delivers rich, beefy comfort layered with smoky bacon and a tangy ketchup-barbecue glaze that finishes sweet, peppery, and just a little spicy. Mushrooms, onions, and herbs keep the interior juicy and flavorful, while the dramatic presentation makes it perfect for Halloween parties or any fun, themed dinner where a bold centerpiece is the goal.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook1 hr 5 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 11
- Heart Health
- 36
- Metabolic
- 22
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 48
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Melt the butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Saute the diced onion, celery, mushrooms, and 1 teaspoon salt until the mixture dries out and begins to turn golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, black pepper, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
- 3
In a large bowl, combine the remaining 2 teaspoons salt, the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, buttermilk, 2 tablespoons ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the cooled vegetable mixture. Mix thoroughly with your hands until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- 4
From the second onion, slice off 2 round sides about 1/2 inch thick for the zombie eyes. Push 1 clove into the center of each slice. Cut a 1-inch-wide section from the remaining onion and dice it into chunks to make zombie teeth.
- 5
Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking sheet and, with damp hands, shape it into a zombie skull that is 3 to 4 inches tall. Make indents for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Drape the bacon over the face, covering most of the meatloaf. Add the onion eyes and teeth. Use a spatula to tuck the loose bacon ends under the sides. Cover the onion eyes with aluminum foil to keep them from browning.
- 6
Bake in the preheated oven until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees F (68 degrees C), about 1 hour.
- 7
Stir the barbeque sauce, 1/4 cup ketchup, and hot sauce together in a bowl to make the blood sauce.
- Calories 703.03 kcal High 35%
- Protein 58.36 g Good Source 117%
- Carbohydrate 29.53 g 11%
- Total Fat 37.23 g High 48%
- Saturated Fat 17.06 g High 85%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 187.5 mg High 63%
- Sodium 820.02 mg High 36%
- Dietary Fiber 2.41 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 4.5 g --
- Added Sugars 3.4 g Moderate 7%
- Calcium 83.82 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 6.67 mg Good Source 37%
- Potassium 325.14 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin A 26.37 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 11.09 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin D 0.2 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Undead Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf is made with 20 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bacon, Barbecue Sauce, Black Pepper, and Bread Crumbs. Each serving provides about 703.03 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon, Barbecue Sauce, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Butter. The full list of 20 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf?
- About 1 hr 50 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 1 hr 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 703.03 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 20 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf healthy?
- Chef John's Undead Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 703.03 calories and 58.36 g of protein, or 117% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 820.02 mg (36% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 17.06 g (85% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.4 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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